Matchup Summary (Win Condition and Game Plan)
Squirtle wants to stop Pichu’s Jab, Forward Tilt, and Up Tilt with OOS Nair (7f), OOS Bair (8f), OOS Fair (8f), and OOS Uair (8f), then force Pichu back outside Down Tilt and Neutral Air to keep stage control.
In Squirtle vs Pichu, the stable plan is to avoid playing directly into Pichu’s Down Tilt and Neutral Air and take the landing or ledge route before Pichu can reset.
The table shows that Pichu’s Jab, Forward Tilt, and Up Tilt can be answered by Squirtle’s OOS Nair (7f), OOS Bair (8f), OOS Fair (8f), and OOS Uair (8f), so those overcommitments should be cashed out immediately.
For Squirtle, Pichu’s Down Tilt and Neutral Air are still hard to hit immediately out of shield, so reading the landing spot or ledge route matters more than forcing an early swing.
Full Move Frame Quick Reference
| Opponent Move | Startup | On Shield | Squirtle OOS Candidate Moves | Barely Missed Moves |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jab | 2 | -11 |
| |
| Forward Tilt | 5 | -11 |
| |
| Up Tilt | 7 | -10 |
| |
| Down Tilt | 7 | -4 |
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| Dash Attack | 6 | -20 |
| |
| Forward Smash | 16/19/22/25/28/31 | -16 |
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| Up Smash | 9 | -21 |
| |
| Down Smash | 8/11/15/19/23 | -21 |
| |
| Neutral Air | 3 | -4/-4 |
|
|
| Forward Air | 10/14/18/22 | -10/-10 |
| |
| Back Air | 5/11/15/19/26/30 | -16/-16 |
|
|
| Up Air | 4 | -8 |
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|
| Down Air | 14 | -16 |
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|
| Neutral B | 18 | -29/-30 |
| |
| Side B | 17 | -20 to +3 |
| |
| Up B | ** | — | ||
| Down B | 9 | -27 |
| |
| Grab | 6 | — | ||
| Dash Grab | 8 | — | ||
| Pivot Grab | 9 | — |
Win Condition Checklist
- Squirtle should not play directly into Pichu’s Down Tilt and Neutral Air; wait for Pichu’s Jab, Forward Tilt, and Up Tilt and answer with OOS Nair (7f), OOS Bair (8f), OOS Fair (8f), and OOS Uair (8f).
- After Squirtle blocks Pichu’s Jab, Forward Tilt, and Up Tilt, pick the reachable option from OOS Nair (7f), OOS Bair (8f), OOS Fair (8f), and OOS Uair (8f) immediately.
- Squirtle should not mash after Pichu’s Down Tilt and Neutral Air; take the landing route, escape route, or ledge route first.
- Squirtle should finish stocks by breaking Pichu’s landing and recovery routes so Down Tilt and Neutral Air does not get more neutral reps.
Actions to Avoid
- Letting Pichu start the exchange on Down Tilt and Neutral Air terms and giving Squirtle’s stage control away for free.
- Having Squirtle block Pichu’s Jab, Forward Tilt, and Up Tilt but never answer with OOS Nair (7f), OOS Bair (8f), OOS Fair (8f), and OOS Uair (8f).
- Sending Squirtle too deep after Pichu’s Down Tilt and Neutral Air and letting the reset punish the chase back.
- Panicking at the ledge as Squirtle and simplifying Pichu’s Down Tilt and Neutral Air-driven advantage sequence.